Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck sold to EPI

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck have been bought by French company Societe Europeenne de Participations Industrielles (EPI), Decanter.com can confirm.No details have yet been given but Decanter.com can confirm that EPI will not split the company, and there will be no major staff changes.

The deal is reported to be worth €400m. EPI is taking on an inventory of 40m bottles and 800ha of vineyards,

EPI is the holding company of the Descours family, which owns a number of upmarket French clothing brands including JM Weston, François Pinet, children’s clothes firm Bonpoint, and men’s shirt store Alain Figaret.

The business is run by Christopher Descours, the youngest son of Jean-Louis Descours, who formerly ran the shoe retailer André.

EPI also controls Cotes du Luberon estate Château La Verrerie, which has been run by the Descours family for 30 years.

Piper-Heidsieck was founded in 1785 by Florent-Louis Heidsieck. It was later split into three different entities, the others being Heidsieck Monopole and Charles Heidsieck.

Together they are some of the world's best-known - and most-awarded - Champagne brands.

Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck won more than 20 medals in the 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards, including five regional trophies.NE